(Click HERE for a video interview.)

BISMARCK, ND – A trio from New Mexico State is headed north this summer, the newest members of the Bismarck Larks “Flock.”

“I’m excited to be a part of the Northwoods League,” said Tristen Carranza. “I have heard good things.”

Carranza is a 5’11,” 210lbs. junior from El Centro, California. Last season Carranza and the New Mexico State Aggies were named Second Team All-Conference in the WAC. Carranza hit .314 with a WAC-high 16 home runs and 52 RBI in his breakout sophomore season. He also led the conference in slugging percentage (.649) and hit-by-pitches (15). Carranza finished the year tied for third in the WAC with 120 total bases. He blasted 8 home runs in 24 conference games and had four multi-home run games, which included a game where he hit 2 home runs in 1 inning. Through 22 games in the 2018 campaign, Carranza is currently hitting .350 with 8 home runs and 28 RBI with 10 walks and 10 hit-by-pitches.

“Carranza is a special hitter who is going to be a mainstay in the Larks lineup throughout the summer,” said Larks Coach, Sean Repay. “He has big time power to all parts of the field. He is also a super-utility type player who can play LF, 1B and 3B for us any given day. There is a certain presence he has in the box and I think he is going to help our ball club in a big way this summer. I couldn’t be happier to have a player like Tristen on this roster.”

Joining Carranza, is fellow Aggie, Braden Williams. “I like baseball because it is different than any other game,” said Williams, who has been playing since he was four. “Anything can happen and anyone can win,” he continued.

Williams is a 5’8″ 175lbs. junior from Irving, Texas. Prior to New Mexico State, Williams spent the 2016 season at Texas Tech, where he appeared in 5 games as a freshman. In 2017, Williams spent his sophomore campaign with Navarro Community College. He played in 54 games for the Bulldogs, where he led the team with a .347 batting average to go with 14 doubles and 3 home runs while scoring 41 runs and registering 39 RBI. So far this season for the Aggies, Williams has appeared in 10 games, where he is hitting .280 with 4 RBI.

“Williams is a great defensive catcher that the Aggies are very high on,” Repay said. “He brings a little sneaky juice to the plate as well. I believe with our catchers on this roster, Williams will be one of the guys who performs at a high level for us.”

Along with the pair, Matt Munden will be sporting a Larks jersey in 2018.

“Baseball allows me to get away from all the outside distractions and focus on something I love,” Munden told us.

Munden, a 5’10” 180lbs. redshirt sophomore from El Paso, Texas. Mundon redshirted last year, his sophomore season. His freshman year he made 2 appearances in relief, making his college debut against Texas Tech. In the 2018 season so far, Munden has appeared in 4 games, logging 2.1 innings out of the bullpen for the Aggies. In his most recent outing against Arizona, Munden pitched 0.2, striking out both batters he faced.

“I am very excited to add Munden to our bullpen for the 2018 season,” said Coach Repay. “He came into this year with New Mexico State lacking some experience due to redshirting last season. He has certainly started to gain some momentum with them. I look forward to having him be a key piece to our pen this summer.”

Before the trio arrives this May, meet the them for yourself here.